Wheeled axle for gun-carriages and other vehicles suspended on springs



1 E.. SCHNEIDER. W HEELED AXLE FOR GUN CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLESSUSPENDED 0N SPRINGS; 1,374,238,

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 28, I920.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

8 SHEE S-SHEET l.

IIIIIIIIII' E. SCHNEIDER. I WHEELED AXLE FOR GUN OARRIAGES AND OTHERVEHICLES SUSPENDED ON'SBRINGSh 'APPLICATION men rmza, 1920.

1,374,238. Patented Apr. 12-, 192L HgTQHEETS SHEET 2'.

.E. SCHNEIDER. WHEELED AXLE FOR GUN CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLESSUSPENDED 0N SPRINGS.

1 93 H 2 14 IS mu m M H m APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1920. 1,374,238.

Fig: 5.

all:

E. SCHNEIDER. WHEELED AXLE FOR GUN cARRrAGgs AND OTHER VEHICLESSUSPENDED 0N SPRINGS.

.12, 1921. ET SHEET 4.

APPLLCATION FILED FEB. 28 1920. 1,374,238.

Patented 3 WW I MHM E. SCHNEIDER.

WHEELED AXLE FOR. GUN CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES SUSPENDED 0N SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 28, 1920- 1,374,238., Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

8 SHEETS- SHEET 5- E. SCHNEIDER. WHEELED AX LE FOR GUN CARR-IAGES ANDOTHER VEHICLES SUSPENDED 0N SPRINGS. APPLICATION FILED FEB; 28, I920.

1,374,238. Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

E. SCHNEIDER. -WHEELED AXLE FOR GUN CA RRIAGES AND DTHER VEHICLESSUSPENDED 0N SPRIN GS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28,1920;

1,374,238. Famed Apr- 12, 192-1.

. s SHEETS'SHEET'I- E. SCHNE|DER-.-- WHEELED AXLE FOR GUN CA RRIAG ESAND OTHER VEHICLES SUSPENDED 0N.SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28,1920. 4 Patented Apr- 12, 1921.

Q SHEETS-SHEET 8- vention' is fully set forth in the following longitudinal section, and a cross section on the l1ne14-14 of Fig. 13, ofanother coni r structional example. I

EJN-ITED STATES PATENT owingf EUGENE SCHNEIDER, 0E PARIS, FRANCE,AssreNoR T0 sCnNErD R & cm, or rARIs,

FRANCE, A. JoINnsro'CK CoMrANY or FRANCE.

WHEEL-ED AXLE Eo eUN-C RRIAeEs AND OTHER VEHICLES SUSPENDED oN' ISPRINGS. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER, of 42 Rue dAnjou, Paris, France,have invented new and useful Improvements in lVheeled Axles forGun-Carriages and other Vehicles Suspended on. Springs, whichinspecification.

This invention has for its object to pro vide an improved wheeled axle,moreparticularly designed for use in'heavy vehicles such as guncarriages. I

The improved wheeled axle is constructed to afford an elastic suspensionof the gun" carriage or the'chassis or framing of the vehicle. Thecharacteristic feature of the improved wheeled axle consists in thattheaxle isv subdivided into a main central portion and two journalscarrying the wheels,

the said journals being guided vertically in the ends of the said mainportion. The spring suspension device is arranged between the verticallymovable journals and its independent main axle portion or between thejournals andthe carriage body or chassis of the vehicles which in allcases rests directly upon the said main axial portion. Owing to thissubdivision of the axle and the spring connection between the maincentral axle portion and. the twoend portions or journals of the axle,these two'end portions are capable of yielding'independently of eachother relatively to-the main;

axle portion that carries theloa'd. 7

Various examples of the application and construction of this inventionare illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 to 1 illustrate the application of this invention to a wheeledaxle 'for use with a gun carriage that is capable of sliding along themain axle portion for the purpose-of training the'gun.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the axle partly in axial section. j, rFig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 aresections respeotivelyon the lines 3-3 and -4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively aside elevation, partly in longitudinalsection; and a crosssection on the'line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate another con structional examplerespectivelyjn partial longitudinal section,-'a cross-section on theSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 28, 1920. Serial No. 362,117.

the lines 9-9 and 10-10 of F 7 F lgs. 11 and12 arerespectively a partialline 8-8 of Fig. 7 and horizontal sections onlongitudinal section, and ahorizontal sec- 7 tion on the line 12-12of Fig. 11, of anothermodification. g i

Figs. 13 and 14' are respectively a partial Figs. 15, lo and 17are,respectively a partlal longitudinal section, a cross-sectionon theline 16-16, and a horizontal section on the line 17-17 of 'Fig. 15 ofanother oonstructional example.

F gs. 18 and 19 are respectively a partial longitudinal section, and ahorizontal-section on the line 19-19 of anothermodification.

' According to} this invention the improved wheeled axle comprisesa mainaxle portion A. provided at each end with a guide box 13 for a slideblock D formed on an axle jour nal E which is'independent'of the mainportion A, and on. which the corresponding wheel F is adaptedto rotate.The improved axle comprises, brieflystated, a main portion B-A-B and twoindependent jour-' nals E-D, the latter being constructed in such amanner as tov slide vertically-in the ends of the main axle portion.

In this first example the elastic suspension of the carriage body G is'efiected by the in terposition of a spring between the said carriagebody and the slide blocks D formed,

on the axle journals E. As shown, a single laminated spring H may beemployed, the longest plate of which is jointed at its ends by means ofthe links I to the slide blocks i [D The central buckle of the laminatedspring is attached normally, that is to say, during the travel of thevehicle, to the car riage body Gwhich is carried directly by the mainaxle portion A. Thisattachment may be effected 'for' example bymeansof-a bolt 0. As shown in Fig. 1, the guide boxes B, instead ofb'eingtormed directly on the 'main axle portion, may be attached tothelatter, and. may be provided for this purpose with a truncated conicalprojection 13 fittlng 11113011, corresponding recess inthe main portionA and fixed to the latter-by I means of a key'B The boxes may, as shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 4 carry rollers B and B against which bear the facesof the slide blocks 1') for the purposeof facilitating the guidingmovement and avoiding or seizing. v r

7 Since in the example shown the invention is applied to a guncarriage,"it is necessary:

to be able during firing to obviate the possibility of the mainaxle-portion A becom ing displaced relatively to the ournals E'D. Forthis purpose ach of'the boxes B carries at the end of a screw-threadedspindle J movable in the said box, a shoe J which is adapted to bepressed'against the upper face'of the slide block I) in such a manner asto prevent-its rising.

On the other hand when it is ,desired'to train the gunby sliding thecarriagebodyG along the axle A, the bolt 0 is withdrawn; and the part Dthat serves for the attache main axle portion BA.B and the'jour- .nais E,D, c0mpr1ses two pa1rs of lannnated springs arranged, transversely tothe axle.

IE'ach ofthe slide blocks D carries the buckle h of a spring HThe'spring H which is conjugated with the latterhhasiits buckle k formedon the corresponding'guide box 713 The longest plates B and H areconnected together by links I.

In'the example shown in Figs. 7 to 10, A designates as before the mainaxle portion which is provided atits ends with guide boxes B for theslide blocks D formed on the axle journals E. Inthis construction therollers for facilitating the guiding" and avoiding amming are carriedbythe slidelbl'ocks; The elastic device interposed between the journals ED and the main axle 7 portion A, comprises, for each journal, a

coiled spring H bearing. at one end against 7 the bottom of a recessformed n the mam axle portion A and its other end against a cup Hmovable inthe. said recess. Connecting links H and H? are pivoted on thepivot pin H carried by the said cup. The other ends of these links carrypivot pins 72;? and it that are movable, inguide slots (Z formed in theslide block D, and also in the guiderslotslbv formed in the guide box B.

TVhen the wheel F receives an upwardly di' rected shock, the'journal Ecarries withit the slide bloclrl), and through the latter, the pivotpin7L with the result of displacing the pivot H to 'the right,' and compressing the spring H;

inversely, if the wheel F should encounter a depression, the load actingthrough the with two inclined planes '(Z (F. j v t will be readilyperceived that which ever may be the direction of the movement of theslide block D relativelyto the box B, the roller L isforcedinward,'cOmpi'esSing I the spring H. s v

imain axle portion A, will tend to depress the box 13. relativelyto theslide block D- T he box B depresses the pivot pin h in the 1 guide slotsZ) and (5," this having likewise the it result 'right and compressingthe spring H;

of displacing the-pivotpin H? to the in the modification shown in Figs.11 and 12, as in the preceding example, the elastic device interposed 7between the ma n axle portion B'-'A-B"and the journals ED,

comprises atjeach end ofthe main axle portion, a coiled spring Harranged exactly as in the preceding example." in this arrangement the'cup H against which the outer end ofthe 'springbears; carries throughthe medium of aifork, a roller L that is movable iii. a recess in theslide block D in contact j Figs. and 14 show: a constructional examplewherein the mutual gu dance between the main axle portion and thejournals is effected bythe arrangement of a dislra ateach end of themain axle portion, movable in a box B formed on the 1011111211; Theelastic device 1Iltifp0S6dltween 'themain axle portion and the journalscomprises in this arrangement a series of spring studs H whose conicalheads are normally jengaged in recesses of corresponding shape formed inthe dish a.

On shock" occurring, the plate a slides in the box B owing to thecompression of the springs of the studs H and the expansion of thesesprings has a constant tendency to return 'the parts into the normalposition shown in these figures.

1 ins. 15 16 and 17 show a constructional 3 V e c 7 example comprls ng aslide box 1) iorined on "each journal E and movable vertically in a .boxBfixed to the mam axle portion A.

The interposed elastic'device comprises a pair, of laminated springs H Hof which the'longest'plates are connected together at their ends. Thebuckle 72 of the spring H is pivoted on a pivot pin D carried bytheconnected by links M'to a pivot pin B? carried by the box B. The buckleh? of thespring H is pivotally ointed by means of a projection ,toapivotpin B carried by the box B. On this pivot pin there is pivoted on theother hand one end of the links N, the other ends of which are'piyotedona pivot pinD carried by the slide block D. 7

If thewheel F should receive an upwardly directed shock, itwill carrywith it in the same directionthe slide block D which compresses thesprings H and H thus producing a slight rotationof the links M and inthe upward'directio'n. If, on the c0nslide block 1). This pivot pin isinturn pins B 'andB in the other case.

trary, by reason of the wheel F dropping into a depression in theground, the axle A should have a tendency, to move down, it

will carry with it the axle pins B and B?,

and a compression of the springs will take place'with a slight rotation.of the links M V and N in the downward vdirection.

Figs; 18 and 19"show a modification of the example just-"hereinbeforedescribed In this construction the slide block D carries, as in thepreceding example, two axle pins D D connected by linksMfand Nrespectively to the pivot pins B and B that are carried by the box Bwhich is fixed to the main axle portion A. A coiled spring H is attachedat one end to the pivot pin D carried by the slide block, and itsgotherend to the pivot pin B carried by the'box B; Any relative motion betweenthe slide block l) and the box B will cause an extension of thespring Hwith a slight rotation of the links M and N, around the pivot pins "Dpivot and l) inone case, and around the In all the hereinbeforedescribed constructional examples the two wheels are capable ofoscillating vertically independently of each other. I

What I claim'is:

'l.- The combination with a wheeled axle for gun carriages and othervehicles, comprising a main axle portion carrying the load and journalsat the endsiof said portion carrying the wheels, a mutual vertical guidebetween each ournal and the main axle por tion, and an elastlc devicenormally 1111381 posed between the load carried by the main axle portionand the journals, of means for transmitting the load of the main axlepo'rtion directly to'the journals ithout the in;

terposition of the elastic device. 7 2. The combination with a wheeledaxle j for gun carriages and other vehicles,rcom-" terposed between theload carried by the. main axle portion andthe ournals, of a re-'tractable element mounted in the caslng to 1 bear on the plate fortransmittingthe load of the main axle portion directly to the j our- Inals without the interposition of the elastic device.

3. The combination'with a wheeled axle for gun carriages and othervehicles, comprising a main axle portion carrying the load and 'ournalsat the ends of said ortioncarrying the wheels, a mutual vertical guidebetween each ournal and the mam axle portion comprising a casing fixedto the main axle portionand a plate fixed to the journal and verticallyslidable in saidcasing, and a anelastic device" normally 1Ilt6Ip0S6Cl"btween the load carried by themain. axle pon tion and the journals, ofZtfSBlSI-SCIBW turned into each casing to 'bear on the plate therein totransmit the load of the main axle portion interpo directly to theournals without the sition oftheelastic device. 7 p The combinationwithawheeled axle for gun carriages and other vehicles, comprising av main-1axle portion and journals at the ends of said portion carrying thewheels,

; a chassis to carry the load mounted V on the main axle port1on',: anda mutual vertical guide between eachj ournal andthe-main axle portion,ofa spring connecting both journals and attached betweenthe-journals tothe chassis to absorb shock imparted to the I eels-onto thechassis and'to peri'nit relative' movement between the main. axle: por tions'and'thej-ournals. I

5. The combination with a whe'eledaxle for gun carriages and othervehicles, comprising a main axle portion and journals at the ends ofsaid portion carrying wheels, a

chassis to carry the load mounted on; the

main "axle portion, and 'a mutual vertical guide" between; each ournalmaths. ,main' axle portion, of a spring,fconnectingifthe chassis withboth journals and, normally op eratingto absorb shock imparted tol thewheels or to the chassis-and to permit-relative movement between themain .axle fp'ortlon and the ournals, and means for transmitting theload of the main axle portlon position of the spring.

directly to the .journalsjWithout the inter- 6. The combination withavwheeled axle for guncarrrages and other vehicles, comprising a mainaxle portionand journalsfat the ends of said portion carrying wheels,' achassis tofcarry the load mounted on xthe main axle portion, and-amutualvertical guidebetween each'journal and the main axleportioncomprisingf a casing fixed to one of said members and a platefixed'to the other of said membersand vertically slidable in'saidcasing, ofa spring connecting the chassis with both ournals and normallyoperating to absorbjshock imparted to the wheels or to the chassisandtopermit'rela f tive movement betweenv the casingsand plates, andmeans for preventing relative movement betweenthe casings andtheir re-'spective plates to transmitthe load-of the; main axle portion directly'to the journals without the interposition-of the spring.

7. The comb nation with a wheeled axle for gun carriages and othervehicles, com'- prising a main axle portion and journals at the endsofsaid portion carrying Wheels, a chassis'to' carry the load mounted on.the main axle portion,- and anmutual vertical guide between each journaland the main axle portion comprising a casing fixed to one of saidmembers and a plate fixed to the other of said members, and verticallyslidable in saic casing, ofazspringconnectingi the chassis with. bothjournals andnormally operating to absorb shock imparted to the wheels orto the chassis'and to permit relative movement between the casings andplates, and a retractable element'mounted in each casing to b'ear ontheplate therein to prevent relative movement between 'sa1d'cas-.

ing and plate totransmit the load of the main axle portion directly tothe' ournal's' without the-interposition of the spring.

8. The combination with'za wheeled axle for gun carriages and othervehicles, com-' prising a main axle portion and lournals at the ends ofsaid portion carrying wheels, a

chassis to carry the loadfmounted on the main axle portion, and" amutual vertical guide between each journal and. the main axle portion:comprising: a casing fixed to one of said members and a plate fixed tothe other of said members and vertically slidable:

in said casing, "or a spring connecting the chassis with both ournalsand normally operating to absorb [shock imparted to the wheels or to thechassis and topermit relative movement between the casings and plates,and a set-screw turnable ineach c'asing to bear on the plate therein toprevent relative movement between said casing and plate to-tran-smit theload of the j main; axle portion directly to the journals Without theinterposition of the spring.

9. The combination with a wheeled axle for gun. carriages and other.vehicles, comprising 'aimain axle portion and journals at the ends ofsaid portion carrying wheels, a chassis to carry the load slidable alongthe main axle portion, and a mutual vertical guide between eachjournalandv the main axleportion, of a spring connected with the chassis andconnected at its ends to both journals and normally operating to absorbshock imparted to the wheels or to the chassis, the.

connection between the spring and chassis being detachable to permitrelease of the chassis to slide along the main axle portion, andadjustable means for transmitting the load of the main axle portiondirectly to the journals without the interposition of the spring.-

10. Thecoinbination witha wheeled axle for gun carriages and othervehicles, comprising a main axle portion and journals at the ends ofsaid'portion carrying wheels, a chassis to carry the load slidable alongthe main axle portion, and a mutual vertical guide between-each journaland the main axleportion comprising a casing fixed to the mainaxleportion and a plate fixed to the ournal and-vertically slidable in saidcasing, of a'spring connected with the chassis and connected at its endsto the plates fixed to the journalsand normally operating to spring andchassisbein g detachable to permit release of the chassis to slidealong'the main axle POIUOH, and a retractable element mounted in eachcasing to bear onthe plate therein. to prevent relative movement betweensaid casi-ng andplate to transmit the load of the main axle portiondirectlyto the journals without the interposition of the spring. r

main axle portionfand' a mutual vertical guide between veach ournal andthe main axle portion comprising a casing fixed to the main axle'portionand a plate fixed to the j ournal and vertically 'slidable in said 1casing, of a spring detachably connected V with the chass s to permitthe releaseof'said chassis to slide along the main axle portion, adustable connections betweenthe ends of the springand said platestopermit depresisionofthe spring toclear the chassis when released fromthe samegand a retractable element mounted ineach casing to bear on theplate therein to prevent relative movement-between saidca sing and plateto transmit-the load ot'the mainaxle portion directlyto the'journalswithout the interposition'of the spring.

12. The combination with a wheeled axle for gun carriages and othervehicles, comprising a main axle portion and journals at the ends ofsaid portion carrying the wheels,

"a chassis to carry the load mounted on the main axle portion, a limitedmutual vertical V ANDRE Mosrioxnn,

LOUIS GARDET.

abs-orb shock imparted to the Wheels or to j the chassis, the,connection between the ihe combination with a wheeleda'xle V for 'guncarriages and, other vehicles, comprisinga main axle portion; andjournals at theends of said portion carrying wheels a chassis to*carrythe load slidable along the

